Meat + Poultry points to the unprecedented growth of plant-based protein companies such as Impossible Foods and predicts a bright future for meatless food.

Meat industry outlet Meat + Poultry magazine published its “Year in Review 2017” report in its December issue. The publication listed several “hot topics” it gleaned from its biggest headlines of the year, including the rapid growth of plant-based meat companies and foods. “Companies like Memphis Meats and Impossible Foods have gained momentum in offering plant-based and cultured meat as alternatives to traditionally produced, animal-derived proteins,” the publication stated. “As a growing number of retailers, foodservice operators, and even processors invest in the future of the technologies behind these new products, the future of meat alternatives beyond 2017 looks bright.” Similarly, earlier this week, meat-centric publication Farmer Journal’s Pork highlighted the growth of vegan fast-food eateries such as San Diego’s Plant Power Fast Food.